Sunderland head coach Dick Advocaat has claimed that the club's summer arrivals are struggling to make an impact in the Premier League.
The Black Cats have had a dismal start to the season having failed to pick up a win in seven games.
The North-East outfit are at the bottom of the league table following five defeats and two draws.
In the summer, Sunderland spent around £30m on eight new players, but Advocaat is disappointed at the lack of influence that the new faces are having on the team.
"It's difficult because we brought some new players in and you hope they will do that along with the players left, but at the moment, they don't seem to be making a difference," the Sunderland Echo quotes Advocaat as saying.
Sunderland's next game is at home to West Ham United on Saturday.